, 1887-12-11
Good Taste Being Displayed in
Their Selection.
No Two People Yet Agree as to the
Ten Best.
Some Suggestions Which Should
Govern Contributors.

Is supposed to send IN a list of what In
his or her judgment are the ten greatest
novels, altogether irrespective of the
judgment of the literary world. The dis
cussion was also expected to be of some
benefit as a stimulus to the study OF the
masterpieces of literature, and as a guide
to many who are really deslrous Of reach
ing the very best in this branch Of litera-
ture.
A few days ago the appended interest
ing communication was received:
A FEW USEFUL HINTS. O.
To the E itor of The LEADER.
CHEYENNE, Dec. 4.-The discussion
~inaugurated by The LEADER concerning
novels is entertaining and useful. If a
general expression of opinion could be
thus elected, the result would be interest
ing, as indicative in the aggregate of the
standard of literary taste prevalent in our
community. 1t is to be presumed that
the lists submitted indicate the individual
preferences of the writer regardless of the
degree Of celebrity which any of the
works may have attained, or of their
merit as determined by the ablest literary
critics. | beg to submit the following as
my own preference-though l would ac-
cept without much protest the original
LEADER list excepting Indiana" Field
ing's Tom Jones is a work of consider
able merit in my estimation and depicts
the life and manners OF his time probably
with much fidelity.
LES Miserables," Hugo.
David Copperfield," Dickens.
THE Newcomes," Thackeray.
"Bracebridge Hail." Irving.
Vanity Fair" Thackeray.
'Zanoni," Bulwer Lytton.
Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte,
House of Seven Cables Haw-
thorne.
John Halifax Gentleman" Mu-
lock,
wilhelm Meister," Goethe.
In selecting a list of favorites one
should be governed by the effect produced
upon the mind-the strength of the i'm
preston made, either in regard to opin-
IONS, modes ofthought, or as affecting the
formation of character or conduct, the
former especially. Yours truly,
W. RICHARDSON.
A young bank clerk of the city, whose
ability in his business is only equaled by
his rapacity for novels, submits the ap-
pended list:
Vanity Fair Thackeray.
Lorna Doone," Blackmore.
Scarlet Letter" Hawthorne.
LES Miscrables, Victor Hugo.
'Zanoni,' Bulwer Lytton.
'Pickwick Papers" Dickens.
Tale of Two Cities" Dickens.
adam Bede," George Eliot.
"Wilhelm Meister," Goethe.
Cesar Birotteau," Balzac.
Secretary Shannon, whose reading has
embraced a wide scope, submits the fol-
lowing twenty, being unable to limit him
self to ten:
SCOTS "Ivanhoe" and "Kenilworth. "
Bulwer's My Novel, and "Rienzi."
Thackeray's "Newcomes" and VANITY
Fair"
Wilkie Collins Woman in White"
and "Moonstone."
DR.. Croley's ''Salathiel."
Dickens David Copperield'' and
Curiosity Shop"
George Eliot's ''Middlcmarch'' and
Daniel Derunda."
VIM Blacks Daughter Of Heth" and
Princess of Thule"
Ouida's Wanda and Little Wooden
Shoes"
H~awthorne's Marble Faun'' and
Scarlet Letter"
A lawyer, who is quite difident OF his
ability to select from such a maze OF liter
azure, submits the following:
Hugo's Les Miserables."
Dumas Count of Monte Cristo."
Bulwer's Last Days OF Pomreii.'
Thackeray's Vanity Fair.
Dickens BLEAK House"
Miss Mulock's John Halifax Gentle
man"
H%awthorne's Marble Faun."
Austcn's Jane Eyre
SCOTS "Ivanhoe."
Mr.. 9. n. Potter, who has done good
wo k as one of the library trustees, sub
mits the following list as entitled, in his
opinion, to rank as the first ten of the
greatest and popular novels.
Hugo's Les Miserables."
Wallace's Ben Hur."
Bulwer's Last Days of Pompeii.
SCOTS "~Ivanhoe.
Mulock's John Halifax Gentleman
Dickens David Copperield.
Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter. -
Helen Hunts Pomona
Bronte's Jane Eyre"
Eliot's Adam Bede."
David Miller expresses his preferences
as follows:
THE Heart of Midlothian" Scott.
David Copperfeld," Dickens.
Bleak House." Dickens.
"Pendennis," Thackeray.
The Moonstone," Collins.
The Three Guardsmen," Dumas.